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Living Rune (Occult)

Creature 13 (rare) — construct

Pre-Remaster content. May include legacy alignment.

SniperWeaverLANDVERTICALconstructelectricity

The most famous living runes are those of the ancient Runelords of Thassilon, resurging as Thassilon rebuilds in the modern era. Other living runes can be found, however, each with its own particular abilities. Living runes can also be crafted to deal different types of energy damage with their Strikes. These runes are crafted by unknown hands and often left in out-of-the-way places. Magic is a complex thing to begin with, and at a certain level of sophistication, the differences between a spe

Source: pathfinder-bestiary-3 (Pre-Remaster)

Perception +25; darkvision, truesight 60 feet
Languages truescript
Skills deception +24, occultism +27, stealth +25 (+31 to Hide or Sneak among inscriptions)
Str
+1
Dex
+6
Con
+1
Int
+8
Wis
+8
Cha
+5
AC 34 Fort +20 Ref +23 Will +27
HP 245
Speed 25 feet

Offense

Ranged Electrical Blast (electricity) +25, range increment 60 feet, Damage 4d12 electricity

Abilities

Truescript — A living rune can't speak, but it can sculpt its form into complicated scripts and pictographs that can be understood by any creature with the ability to read written language. A living rune can also understand any written or spoken language.
Constant Spells — A constant spell affects the monster without the monster needing to cast it, and its duration is unlimited. If a constant spell gets counteracted, the monster can reactivate it by spending the normal spellcasting actions the spell requires.
Backdrop — When a creature attempts to Strike a living rune and critically misses, the attacker hits the surface (a canvas, wall, or so on) behind the living rune. This might damage the surface or the attacker's weapon, at the GM's discretion.
Surface-Bound — A living rune can move only along flat surfaces. If the surface it's on is destroyed (such as a portrait hit by a Fireball spell or a wall being smashed), the rune takes 7d6 untyped damage and is shunted to the nearest flat surface. If there is no flat surface within 5 feet, the rune is destroyed.
Occult Innate Spells DC 35, attack +27
7th Visions of Danger (×2)
6th Feeblemind, Phantasmal Calamity, True Seeing (Constant), Vibrant Pattern
5th Crushing Despair (×2), Synesthesia (×2)
3rd Glyph of Warding (At Will)
Cantrips (7th) Detect Magic

WORKS WELL WITH

AnvilLAND / VERTICALAnvil holds enemies in melee while the rune delivers consistent electrical damage from secure wall or ceiling positions.
CrasherLANDCrasher pushes into enemy formations while the rune provides covering fire from elevated surfaces.
ShadeLAND / VERTICALShade creates distractions that divide enemy attention, buying the rune uninterrupted time to deliver ranged attacks.

PUNISHES

✖ melee crit-fishing✖ Will-targeting magic✖ status conditions
Surface-bound static positioning makes stacking another Sniper fragile against aggressive enemy flanking.
Works well with · Punishes · Pairing advice Unlock with Tactics

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Stat block data sourced from the Foundry VTT PF2E system under the Apache License 2.0. Source book: Pathfinder Bestiary 3.

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